Wrigley Field Announces New Menu With More Local Vendors, Healthy Options

Wrigley Field is “swapping vendors” for the ’11 MLB season, as Vienna Beef will “once again become the official hot dog” of the Cubs, replacing Sara Lee's Ball Park franks, according to Gregory Karp of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Vienna hot dogs have not been served at Wrigley since '81. Another “major change for fans” will be the pizza, as D'Agostino's Pizza “replaces Connie's Pizza as the brand served at the park.” Other changes include “hamburgers by Stanley's Kitchen & Tap and jumbo chicken wings from The Fifty/50 restaurant of Chicago.” In addition, Enjoy Life Foods will be the supplier of “gluten-free, allergy-friendly food,” and Lifeway Food “will provide its frozen kefir, a low-fat soft-serve treat -- an alternative to ice cream -- that is 99 percent lactose-free and gluten-free.” Levy Restaurants Exec Chef David Burns, whose company “handles most of the food for Wrigley Field,” said that he “started looking at changing the menu shortly after the season ended last year.” Burns said that Cubs Owners the Ricketts family gave direction “to look at using local vendors and offer more healthy food options.” He said that “in addition to allergy-sensitive foods, the park will offer a vegetable chopped salad and assorted fresh vegetables with hummus.” Meanwhile, at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox replaced Connie’s Pizza for Nestle's DiGiorno pizza. Other new offerings “include an Irish pub, cheesesteak sandwiches and tamale carts.” The ballpark will “change its Beers of the World locations to Midwest Brews, featuring craft beers from neighboring states’ (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 3/28). U.S. Cellular Field also will offer “chicken and pork tamales" and "healthy snacks from Levy Restaurants, including chop salad and grilled chicken sandwiches” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/29).

CHECKING THE MENU: The Rays and hospitality partner Centerplate announced changes to the menu at Tropicana Field, including gluten-free items, local craft beers and a new burger spot. The Brewhouse, a pub-like restaurant, will open close to the rotunda entrance. Burger Up! will open along the first-base food court, and a GF! stand at Center Field Street will feature gluten-free versions of traditional ballpark fare like hot dogs, pretzels and beer (Rays). Meanwhile, the Twins and Delaware North Sportservice announced new local additions to Target Field concessions. New this season will be a turkey sandwich from Turkey to Go, a Walk A Taco from St. Paul-based El Burrito Mercado, Minneapple Pie from Cottage Grill and two Kramarczuk's bratwurst dishes. There also will be a new Kosher hot dog cart at the ballpark (Twins).

FLIPPING A QUARTER: In Milwaukee, Don Walker noted “most food and beverage items at Miller Park will stay the same as last year, but there will be higher prices for some beer, soda and food offerings.” A 16-ounce plastic bottle of beer “will now be $6.75,” a Chicago-style hot dog will be $4.50, and a 28-ounce soda will be $4.50. All three items are increasing $0.25 over last year's prices (JSONLINE.com, 3/28).